The other week, I heard someone doing a cover version of the song, ‘Rainbow Connection’ and somehow..it sounded all wrong. There wasn’t anything wrong with the singer (who had a rather sweet voice) and the music arrangement…it just lacks that certain something.

Composed by Paul Williams and Kenneth Ascher and used in the 1979 movie, “The Muppet Movie”, I grew up watching The Muppets and Sesame Street as I’m sure many of my peers and those before me did.

I guess subconsciously, it also brought back memories of a simpler life and simpler time. Besides I like Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy.

Written by Paul Williams and used by Kermit the Frog, of The Muppets, Jim Henson Productions (lyrics credit to this site)

Why are there so many songs about rainbows
And what’s on the other side?
Rainbows are visions, but only illusions,
And rainbows have nothing to hide.
So we’ve been told and some choose to believe it
I know they’re wrong, wait and see.
Someday we’ll find it, the rainbow connection,
The lovers, the dreamers and me.

Have you been half asleep
and have you heard voices?
I’ve heard them calling my name.
Is this the sweet sound that calls the young sailors?
The voice might be one and the same.
I’ve heard it too many times to ignore it.
It’s something that I’m supposed to be.
Someday we’ll find it, the rainbow connection,
the lovers, the dreamers and me.
La, la la, La, la la la, La Laa, la la, La, La la laaaaaaa

Listening to Kermit the Frog (Jim Henson) sing this song on a banjo, it brings forth and conveys that feeling of the dream and hope that each of us have within us…that certain peace and oasis that we search for in our everyday bustling life.

A truely simple, sweet and touching song.

Enjoy the clip… and may you find your rainbow connection.
(if the clip buffers, just let it run through once and the subsequent viewing will be smooth).

I have always said and belive that music is universal. It doesn’t matter if the song is in French or Italian or Chinese or that the music is classical or jazz or Indian and you don’t have a clue as to waht they are singing.

A good piece of music will be able to speak to your soul.

Last Saturday, I went to the SSO concert and found myself touched by this piece of music.

It’s Salut d’amour- Love’s Greetings by Edward Elgar.

He had composed the song as a gift for his wife-to-be. It speaks volume of his love and happiness. And if it touches you like it did me, then I guess you have felt the love in this little piece of music.

For more information on the composer and the music, please click here

You can find out more about the version I’m playing now here

May your soul be warmed today.

No, I didn’t strike the lottery and isn’t a millionaire. Which is precisely the reason why I haven’t blogged for awhile. Whilst that 2 winners (I think there were 2) are celebrating their windfall, I have to continue working and slogging away.

Which was why I ended up attending 3 functions last night. From 6.30pm last night, I went from a hotel in town to a pub in Shenton Way area to a entertainment spot in Clarke Quay. And I actually see some people at all 3 functions.

There was free flow of drinks.
There was free food.
There was free loud music.
There was plenty of women all dressed up to look at.
There was enough men around (not sure if they was cute as the place was too smokey to see them up close)
There was plenty of seond hand cigerette smoke to inhale as well.

You would have thought that I would be partying the night away especially when it’s free flow of drinks…but I was actually dying to get home by the time I got to the last function venue.

What? You say? Why? I was in a ‘in and cool’ place with all these ‘hip’ people.

I don’t know…at that point in time, I can only think of getting away from the thumping loud music, the smokey air and the energy-draining job of making polite conversation with people that I do not know and back to the comfort of my home. I guess I’m not very hip anymore.

I escaped at about 10pm and came home to a nice hot shower and a bowl of instant noodles.

Instant noodles? What about all the free food?

As it’s always the case with such functions, the drinks are more easily available that the food. The hosts are more determind to get the guests drunk than to feed them.

Anyway….

After all the ‘working’ last night, it’s back to more work today….

Thank goodness it’s Friday.

I was queuing up today, buying my ticket to my early retirement. (See posting here), when I heard something familiar…….very familiar.

It was a man’s voice. Well, there was nothing very spectacular about the voice BUT ‘it’ was speaking in Korean!
(For those not aware, most of us who’re learning the language prick up our ears whenever we hear the kimchi language. We would listen intently, trying to figure out what they’re saying)

I looked up and saw a group of men in front of me. They were also in the queue.

And then one by one, I saw them going up to the counter and saying confidently: “System 7 – 4(sets)”, “System 7 – 1(set), System 8 – 1(set)” etc.

Wow! Are these kimchimen also trying their luck for the S$10,000,000 dream tomorrow. I guess if you can’t beat them, you might as well join in right? hehe!

Maybe next time when I’m in Kimchiland, I should also try their lottery games. I may more luck overseas. Haha!

And yes, I bought my Toto Hong Bao tickets already. I’m ready to retire early. ^^

The Sunday Times last week had a big segment on nostalgia. Actually, it was the whole life section. Though an interesting read, I was rather surprise at the choice of topic for the first day of Chinese New Year.

Anyway, the headline on the main paper, promoting the article said: “You can’t be very young if you remember them.”

Shoot! I know all of them except the Malay singer.

Ok.. I’m officially not very young. Sigh.

Anyway, since they started the ball rolling about nostalgia, I thought I’d do a bit of nostalgia writing about Chinese New Year myself.

Once upon a time, restaurants, coffee shops and almost every shops would shut for CNY. I mean it was really a complete shut down for at least 2 days….for most shops…even longer.

But there would be quite a few makeshift stalls, set up by some very enterprising Malays or Indians. They’s be selling mee rubus, mee siam or satay etc. Not only were these stalls popular with their own fellowmen (who were also denied of their food source like the Chinese) but they were also very much welcomed by the Chinese (who were sick of the Chinese festive food after the umpteenth rounds). They’re not something the people from the Ministry of Environment would approve but back then, things were a lot less strict. It may be my imagination, but somehow food from these ‘temporary’ hawkers tasted better too.

Once upon a time, when I was a little girl, I almost always have a new set of pyjamas for CNY. And they would almost always be pink, though there were the occasional yellow or blue. They would be plain, except for maybe the little bit of lace or motif stichings at the pockets. I’m not sure if they’re still available now. Grandmother used to buy them either at the wet market or the Chinese Emporium. And I would always wear them on CNY eve. Wearing these new pyjamas marks the start of the CNY.

Nowadays I wear t-shirt and shorts, plus an assortment of ‘others’. ^^

Back then, when grandmother was much younger, she would always bake carrot cake (Chinese carrot cake) or yam cake on CNY eve afternoon. We would then have it for breakfast on the 1st day of CNY. It had lots of ‘lap cheong’, dried prawns and mushrooms. I can the kitchen, the round dining table in the kitchen and the tatse of the fresh yam or carrot cake.

My grandmother is too old to do that now. She’s 91 years old this year. So my aunt has taken over the job but it’s done after the first few days of CNY because she doesn’t have the time. Somehow, though they’re still delicious, CNY seems a littles less CNY without the carrot and radish cake on the first day.

I guess, Chinese New Year to a kid..would always seemed magical and wonderful and amazing and great. Alot less headache and many times less tiring.

But hey… enough with reminiscing. It is still CNY, so let’s all look forward and be happy. Maybe I’ll strike the Hong Bao toto next week. Then I can retire a little earlier. Hahaha!

Happy Chinese New Year everyone.

And Happy Birthday everyone.

今天是初七， 是人日。祝大家生日快乐乐。 永远幸福。^^